A twenty-five-year-old man has appeared in court following an incident in Caledon during which a number of people were assaulted including an elderly man who was attacked in his own home.
Jody Dowzell from Castle Drive, Caledon is charged with entering the home of a male aged in his nineties with intent to steal and assaulting him causing actual bodily harm.
It is further alleged he attempted to hijack a vehicle by threat, force or intimidation and assaulted the female driver causing actual bodily harm.
Offending is alleged to have occurred on May 20.
A police officer aware of the facts of the case told Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.
There was no application for bail at this stage and District Judge Peter Magill remanded Dowzell in custody to appear again by video-link on June 12.
Following the incident police issued a statement indicating a report had been received at approximately 10:20pm on the evening in question, that a male had approached a female driver in the Main Street area of Caledon and banged on the window of the vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Murphy said, “He asked if he could borrow the vehicle, and when the woman said no, he punched her in the face. He was then said to have begun running around the area, knocking over bins and threatening members of the public.”
It was further reported the suspect entered a house in the Woodview Terrace area of Caledon, and asked the elderly male occupant if he had a car. When the householder said no, the intruder punched him in the face before making off on foot.
Detective Sergeant Murphy continued, “A short time later, police arrested a man aged in his twenties on suspicion of assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, and burglary with intent to steal.”
It has since emerged Dowzell is currently on bail in respect of other charges which also allegedly occurred in Caledon on 4 November 2023, when he is accused of entering a café as a trespasser and stealing a purse containing £1400 and a further £120 in cash.
He is further accused of possessing a quantity of cannabis during that incident.
These matters are also before Dungannon Magistrates Court and are due for mention on May 31.
